UK: HTA retailers encouraged to ask customers to take part in pesticide survey

The HTA is encouraging its retailers to make their customers aware of a survey regarding amateur use of garden, allotment and houseplant pesticides. The Amateur User Habits Survey 2013 is being carried out by Resource Futures on behalf of the Chemicals Regulation Directorate, the regulatory body for pesticides. The findings of the research will be used to develop future guidance on the safe use, storage and disposal of pesticides for amateur gardeners.

The survey is live until 14 June. It will only take 5 to 8 minutes to complete, and the HTA has donated National Garden Gift Vouchers for the prize draw which participants can enter at the end of the survey (first prize is £100, plus five runner-up prizes of £25).

The survey can be accessed via this link: http://www.snapsurveys.com/swh/surveylogin.asp?k=136577459286.

HTA Policy Manager, Gary Scroby comments, “This survey is important in terms of gathering data to help shape future guidance on pesticide use by the amateur gardener. Resource Futures will be conducting in-store surveys in a small number of garden centres, but the on-line version provides an opportunity to capture much more data. We are therefore encouraging HTA retailers to advertise the survey to their customers via their websites and electronic newsletters over the next couple of weeks.”